Bill de Blasio surfaces as bit player in Wiki-leaked emails

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio keeps getting himself walk-on roles in the lighter scenes of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. The latest WikiLeaks dump of hacked emails to and from campaign chairman John Podesta featured backroom advice from the mayor himself. Photo Credit: Anthony Lanzilote

He complained to Podesta: “Why on Earth did she say ‘Are you going to ask Senator [Bernie] Sanders that question?’ instead of just addressing the issue. When she makes it about her, she loses the high ground. Stating the obvious, I know, but she keeps doing it . . . ”

Funny thing: Just recently de Blasio did something similar in public to what he criticized Clinton doing in private. Rather than “just addressing” a reporter’s question, he made it about himself and the publication involved.

Specifically, he denounced the New York Post as a “right-wing rag” that employs the scribe for propaganda purposes, and he declined to answer, turning instead to others in the room.

De Blasio’s snit had long precedent — such as Mayor Ed Koch suggesting someone burn down the Village Voice.

The whole de Blasio-Clinton nexus has been creating a special dose of political fodder since last year when he delayed endorsing her, to the overwrought concerns of many fellow Democrats. De Blasio finally did so last October.